Wire feeding and cutting-off mechanism



W. E. PRIMROSE WIRE FEEDING AND CUTTING-OFF MECHANISM sam., 11s, 1923. www

Filed Jan. 31; 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AToRNEY Sept. 18,1923.

W. E. PRlMROSE WIRE FEEDING AND CUTTING-0F15* MEGHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1921 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Een HWIE-Qnlr /6 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 18, 1923.

i WILLIAM E. PRIDIROSE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CHALLENGE CUTIiERY CORPORATION, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, `A CORPORATION 0F CON- WIRE FEEDING .AND CUTTING-OFF MECHANISM.

Application filed January 31, 1921. Serial No. 441,241.

VTo all wiz-om t may concern.'

Be it known thatl, )WILLIAM E. PRIMnosE, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1661 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, county of 5 Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in )Vire Feeding `and Cutting-Off ,Mechanisnn of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for l drilling and pinning scales and linings 'on pocket knives and has for its obj ect to facilitate the above mentioned operation. Heretofore, in the-making of covers for knife blades, the scales and linings have been as- 15 sembled and united by hand and drill press,

this method requiring several distinct operavtions2-(1) assembling the scale and lining preparatory todrilling; (2) drilling a hole for a pin, drilling a second hole forthe 2Q opposite pin, (4) `countersinking these holes; (5) inserting and snipping a pin in Vthe first hole, and (6) repeating the operation on a pin in the second'hole. My invention combines these several operations into i 25 one semi-automatic .machineoperation Y In carrying out my invention' have de vised an apparatus in Ywhich the holes in each end of the assembled cover are drilled in aA single operationfand at the same time the 00 wires are insertedin the holes of another cover, previously drilled. The same movement which effects the advance of the drills is also utilized both to feed the Vwires that are being inserted and to cut off the wires r when the proper length has been fed. To accomplish `this I employ two separate drills and two wire feed devices all ofwhich are operated simultaneously as hereinafter set forth.V With the above andA other objects in view I have devised'a machine which will j now be described, the novel features of vwhich willbe pointed out in the appended claims. i Iii-the accompanying drawings, f Figure 1 is a sideelevation of themachine showing certain parts in section,

vFigure 2 is a front elevation thereof, and Figure is a plangviewof a portion of Athe wire spindleoscillating mechanism.

I 1 denotes theframe of the-machine which v bolted of otherwise suitably secured to a work-bench or other suitable foundation. Frame 1 isprovided with a Vguide-way in which'tra-velsa slide 2. Attached to slide 2 is left-hand spindle head 3 and righthand spindle head 4 which are similar to each other in all respects except that they are right and left handed. Slide 2 is actuated by a foot lever 5v pivoted as at 6 in the frame 1. The foot lever, which is the actuating mechanism for the slide, engages it with cylindrical faces working in a rectangular hole'in .the slide. Pivot 6 is retained from endwise movement by a set screw 7. Frame 1 is provided with base 6 for a rotatable table which holds the work. The movement of slide 2 is limited by stop lug 9 on slide 2 which engages adjustable stop screws 10 onframe 1. Spindle heads 3, 4, are trans-` versely adjustable in slide 2 byA means of adjustment screws 11 in brackets 14. Each of the spindle heads 3, 4, is provided with a drill spindle 15 which are both simultaneously driven from a single pulley 16v through gears 17 which drive shafts 18. Telescoping coupling members 19 are universally jointed at their ends 2O to spindles 15 and shafts 18 respectively, and furnish lmeans for driving spindles 15.

Above spindle heads 3, 4, are located upper wirefeed brackets 21 which are transversely adjustable in frame 1 by means of a tongue and groove arrangement shown at 22 and which may be secured in any desired position by moans of a clamping screw 24. Each of the two brackets 21 is provided with a tension bracket 25 which is free to rotate in bracket 21 but is prevented from longitudinal movement therein by a retaining screw 26. Each of the brackets 25 is provided with tension blocks 27 and 28, an adjustment screw 30 being provided for tightening up tension blocks 27, V28 upon the wire. `While brackets 21 may be clampedV by screw 24, it is ordinarily desirable to maintain them in alignment with the wire feed spindles 38. F or this purpose spindle heads 3, 4, areeach provided with a pin 31, which fitsinextension 32 of brackets 21, and is long enough to accommodate recipro- -cation of the head.V

- Eachwire feed spindle 33 is provided with a collar 34 which is fixed upon the spindle by welding orbrazing cr other suitable means. At thelower end ofthe spindle 33 is provided a wire gripping spring-chuck which is actuated by the collar 35 secured to the upper end of a tubular rod 60 through Which the wire passes. The lower end of this rod .'60 is split and this split portion is tapered at 62, this tapered portion coacting with the taper 63V in the lower end of spindle 33'so that as rod 60 is moved upwardly by action Vof spring 36 on collar 35 the segments 64 of the Split end of rod 60 are clamped around the wire as will be obvious. Release of the wire is effected by means of a latch 37 pivote-d to bracket 2l at 38. Spring-39 holds latch 37 against a stop pin 40 in which position the latch will engage collar 35 bn upwardly the tapered portion 63 moves away from tapered portion 62 allowing the spring segments '.64 to move away from the wire and release the same. The latch 37 is disengaged. from collar -35 upon further upward movement of the spindle bracket by means of a tripper 42 which contacts with theY lower edge of the latch at and rotates this latch clock wise, as viewed in Fig. l, on its pivot 38 and withdraws lug 66 from the path of collar 35 allowing spring 36 to raise rod 60 and clam-p segments 64 about the wire as above mentioned. The tripper 42 is adjustable and issecured at any desired position `by meansV of 'lock Vnut 43.

Onthe lower end of spindle 33 is a slidable collar 44 having pivoted thereupon a pair of oppositely disposed levers 45, 'the lower ends of which extend beyond the end of the spindle and in their inner sides are provided with aV pair of snips 46 for cutting the wire. The upper ends of levers 45 are connected byY a tension spring 47 tending normally to hold the snips apart. The downward movement of spindles 33 with relation to the spindle heads 3, 4, is limited by means of a shoulder 48 on the collar 34. A spring 49 normally holds shoulder 48 in engagement Vwith the upper surface of the spindle head. As the spindle head descends or advances'the wire is fed to the knife handleswhich havebeenassembled and drilled yto receive the wire.

The lower ends of levers l45 come into Contact with the knife handles andtheir downward motion is thereby arrested. The spindle head continues to ad- Vance compressing spring 49. Annular shoulders 50 engage the upper ends of levers 45 and by a cammini; action separate-them Y against the tension Vof spring i7v thereby cuttingthewire. Y Y

To facilitate the entryfandpassage ofthe 4,wires,through Vthe drilled liningsand scales andtoprevent chipping of the scales at the ledges of the holes, rotary oscillatory motion is given to each of therwire spindles. Spur lgears lonldrill spindles l5 drive the spur 1 .gears 52 which are keyed to the .spindles of 65,

crank plates 53. Connecting rods 54 extend from the crank plates to pins 34 carried in the operation of the machina,- The connecting rods are guided in horizontal 'plane by engaging slots in the spindle heads. I

lVliile the knife covers are being drilled they are held d'own by means of a presser foot 55 at each end of theknife, there being a presser foot 5 5 foreach ofthe spindle heads 3, 4. Presser foot 55 slides vertically in hollow pin 56 andeXerts a downward pres` sui'e by means of spring 57. It is retained within pin 56 by means ofl a pin 58 integral with pressure foot 55 extending through slot 59 in pin 56. The compression of springs 57V is suiiicient to hold the assembled linings and scales in place'as the drills are being withdrawn. Y Y

In my prior Patent No'. 1,367,831, entitled Drilling and pinning on vmachine for pocket knife, Scales and linings, dated February 8,

1921, is a disclosure of'a table suitable for use with the presentinachiiie; Four grooves are cut in the surface of the table to accom-V modate ltlieburrs and protruding drillsand pins. to rotate it. AV work plateextends outward from the .front of" the table and-on this the covers are assembled and slid into the holders. A plate beneath the work plate engages v a groove in the table and holds it against upward forces in withdrawing the drills. Y

In operating the machine the assembled Two handles are insertedin theatable parts are pushed forward into a holding de- Y vice. stationed toward the front of the table. The foot lever lis now pushed forward, first by a quick Vmotion bringing the drills to work, then by a steady'motion while the drills are working, and last by a` sharp thrust t0 cut ofi1 the pins. It is during this lio downward stroke of the Vspindle heads and, 7

associated parts thatthe handsV are free to assemble new parts for the covers. vThe foot is withdrawn, VcarefullyY ,at iirst,vt`obe sure the drills dofnot stick, VVand then rrapidlylr,

Instarting to workonla'n empty machine, a Y Y' Y Yizo cover is first.Y paced infthe holder towardjthe -frontandi the` foot! leverV is put through a journey to drill thea'zover.V VThe tabl'eisfnow ritter Vthe nenti 'half-turnof the vtable' the Zrevolved .a full half' turn .and pressed-back @against thel stop; r VNiev r'iziarts' are inserted gin Vthe holder now at the fronte-f thetable, 'and on: theneXt journey ofthe footflever the drilled partsiinthe holder-at -the'ba'fckof the table .are pinned and; theA new parts drilled.

holder and through the rectangular recess in the table by other new parts being inserted in position for drilling. It is apparent thatV the operation is a continuous i machine, (1) the foot lever, and (2) the drive pulley. The foot lever raises and lowers the spindle heads and their associated spindle mechanism, certain parts of the mechanism being capable of small independent sliding motions. The drive pulley'rotates the drill spindles and through the medium of the gearings 51 and 52 and connecting rods 54 gives the desired oscillatory movement to the wire. spindles.

The tension blocks 27 and 28 and their brackets do not slide, but are rotatably mounted upon wire feed brackets 21. The wires are threaded down through the tension blocks, and the wire spindles 33. Starting at the top of a stroke a push on the foot lever moves the spindle heads downward, thespring-chucks, gripping the wires and carrying them downward through the tension blocks. These feeding movements, assisted by the oscillation of the wire spindles, thrust the ends of the wires through the drilled holes in the covers until the jaws of the snips rest 'on the covers. Thus themotion of the wire spindles, trunnions, springchucks and the wires held by them is arrested, but the spindle heads continue downward by a sharp thrust in the foot lever, forcing the bevelled shoulders `of the collars between. the arms of the levers carrying the snips, thereby closing the jaws and snipping the wires while they are` in resting position. On the return stroke the spindle heads begin to move up first, the wire spindles, pivot blocks and wires remaining at rest-on account of pressure of spring 49 until shoulders 48 are engaged by the upper faces of the'spindle heads adjacent the spindle holes. The levers carrying the snipsare at the saine time being forced off of the shoulders 50 allowing the springs 47 to open the jaws. 'The spindles, picked up by the shoulders 48, now travel up with the spindle heads, and collars V35 `are Varrested by latch'es'37, disengaging the spring-chucks and releasing the wires7 which are now held stationary by the sliding resist- Vance of the tensionfblocks., After a measured length of the upward or return travel of spindle heads3 and 44 has been completed, tripper 42 trips latch 37 permitting spring 36 to Vforce collar 35 upon the spring-chuck and grip the' wire.` The wire is now carried up against'thexslight resistance ofthe tension blocks for the remainder of the stroke.

feed may be varied as desired.

`".lripper 42 beingadjustable, the amount of The drill spindles are driven by a round belt at a speed of approximately 2200 R. l?. M. The drills are inserted in the chucks to the proper distances for piercing the work land `tlie spring jaws of the chucks are ground to angular cutting edges to act as countersinks. As the spindle heads are depressed, the drills are'rotated and forced through the covers. As the drills break through the spindles are advanced by springs. This prevents the scales from chipping and also removes the burr on the upper surfaces by slightly contersinking with the chuck points', thus producing clean drilled holes. Further, cushions are adorded to rest the drill spindles until the wires have been snipped.

This application isa continuation in part of my application Serial No. 344,879, entitled Drilling and pinning on machine for pocket knife, scales and linings, tiled .Decemberl, 1919, which has matured into Patent No. 1,367 ,831, dated February 8, 1921,

I claim- 1. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating head, actuating means therefor, means carried by the head normally gripping the wire,'a fixed support, a latch pivoted to said support for releasing said gripping means from the wire on the return travel of the head, and an adjustable tripper carried by the head for tripping' said latch after a measured portion of said return travel of the head has been completed, thereby permitting said gripping means to reengage said wire.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating head, actuating means therefor, a hollow spindle for threading the wire therethrough carried by said head, a spring chuck for gripping said wire carried on the end of said spindle,a collar slidably carried on said spindle for actuating said chuck, a spring carried on said spindle bearing on said collar for normally holding said chuck in gripping position, and means Vfor holding said collar stationary over a measured travel ofthe head in one direction, thereby permitting` said chuck to release the wire.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating head, actuating `means therefor, a.V hollow spindle for threading said chuck, a spring carried on said spindle bearing on said.. collar for normally holding said chuck in gripping position, a fixed Vsupport,a latch pivoted to said support rer holdingV said collar stationary as the head travels in one direction, thus permitting the chuck to release the wire, and an adjustable slidably carried on said spindle for actuat- 'freo tripper carried by said head for tripping said latch after Va measured length of travel has been completed by the head, thereby releasing saidspring and causing said chuck to grip the Wire, f

1l. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating head, actuating means for the same, a Wire cutter, means for yieldingly carrying said Wire cutter by said head, a stop for said Wire cutter, and means actuated by the advance of said head after said Wire cutter has been stopped, for actuating the latter.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating spindle head, ac-

tuatingmeans therefor, a hollow spindle for threading the VWire therethrough carried by and extending beyond said head, means carried by said spindle for pivoting tivo oppositely disposed levers thereupon, one pair of ends of said levers extending beyond the end of said spindle and provided with opposed snips on their inner faces, a tension spring connecting the other pair of ends of said levers, a spring normally holding said levers away from said head, stop means for said levers as the head advances, and cam ming means carried bythe head as the same advances with respect to the levers for separating the spring connected ends of the same and thus actuating the snips.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating head, actuating means therefor, means carried by said head for gripping a Wire during the advance travel of said head, means for releasing said gripping means from the Wire on the return travel of said head, and means carried by said head and actuated by the movement thereof for cutting said Wire at the end vof each advance. j

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating head, actuating means therefor, means carried by said head for gripping a wireV during the advance travel of said head, adjustable means for releasing said gripping means from the Wire on the return travel of said head, means for holding-the Wire stationary While the head is moving in the vicinity of its most advanced position, and means actuated by the movementof the head for cutting the Wire :While the same is so held.

j 8. A machineA of the character described, comprising a vreciprocating spindle head, actuating means'- therefor, a hollow spindle siidab'ly carried in said-head, stop'means for limiting the movement of said spindle Vrelative to saidV head,1a spring normally holding said stop means inengagement, Wire gripping means on oneend of said spindle,

,means disengagingsaid Wire gripping means from the Wire over a measured portion of the return .travel ofthe spindle, Wire cutting means on the 'opposite end of the spindle,

Vance travel of the head, means for releas-V.

ing said gripping means from the Wire on the return travel of the head, and stationary means friction-ally holding the Wire to prevent movement of the latter except. in response to said gripping means. Y

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame, having a fixed guide- Way, aslide reciprocating in said guideway, means for actuating said slide, a head carried by said slide, Wire feeding means carried on the head, and means for vtransversely adjusting the head with respectrto the slide. j p

11. A machine of thecharacter described, comprising a frame having a guideWa-y, a slide reciprocating in said guideW-ay, means for actuating said slide, Va head, transversely adjustable means for securing said head to said slide, Wire gripping means carried upon said head, means actuating said WireV grippings means to `advance. the Wire, atension bracket, transversely adjustable means for securing said'bracket to said frame, and means for transversely adjusting said bracketl in unison with said slide.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame having a guidewvay, a slide reciprocating in said guideway, means for actuating said slide, a head, transversely adjustable means for securing said head to said slide, a bracket, transverselv adjustable means for securing said bracket to said frame, means carried by said head and said bracket for advancing the wire, and means for transversely adjustingsaid bracket, in Vunison with said slide.

13. In combination with a reciprocating head and a stationary bracket, means for transversely adjusting said head, and Qmeans vfor transverselyadjusting said bracket in unison with said head;y

14. In Va machine of theV characterY de-V scribed, a frame'carryinga vertical slideto which right and left'spindle heads are 'ada justably attached for transverse moyements,

and carrying a Wire feed bracket inpalign Yment With each spindlevheachfeach of said "n brackets being 'transversely adjustable inV unison withV its respectiveispindle head.

iio

15. A ,machine ofithe character described,Y

comprising right and f left?! vreciprociating heads eac'h carrying a 'drill spindle .andra Wirespindle, a drive pulley, and a common;

driving means `for said drill spindles.

16. A machine of the character described, comprising right and left reciprocating heads adjustable toward and from each other and carrying drill and wire spindles, a drive pulley, and means for driving each of said drill spindles from said drive pulley.

17. In a machine of the character specified, a frame carrying a vertical slide to which right and left spindle heads are adjustably attached for transverse movements, and also adjustably carrying transversely adjustable wire feed brackets.

1S. ln a machine of the character described, the combination ot a spindle head with a collar projecting below its lower surface and carrying a circumferential shoulder, and a wire spindle slidable through the collar and carrying a trunnion with levers and snips, whereby a downward thrust on the spindle head after the wire spindle has reached its lowermest position forces the shoulder to spread the levers and operate the snips.

V19. A machine of the character described, comprising right and left reciprocating spindle heads each carrying a drill spindle and a wire spindle, and a spring pressed presser foot on each spindle for holding down the work as the drills are withdrawn.

2O.Y A machine of the character described,

Vcomprising right andV lett reciprocating spindle heads each carrying a drill spindle and a wire spindle, a revoluble table having means for holding the work against transverse movement, and a spring pressed presser foot on each spindle head for holding the work down as the drills are withdrawn.

21. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating spindle head carrying a drill spindle` and a wire spindle, and means for holding knife covers to be drilled and wired comprising a table and means carried by the spindle head coacting therewith.

22. A machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating spindle head carrying a drill spindle,` a presser foot adjacent thereto, and a wire spindle, and means for holding the knife covers to be drilled and wired comprising a table and means carried by the spindle head coacting therewith.

23. ln a machine of Athe character described, a 'frame carrying a vertical slide to which right and left spindle heads are adjustably attached for transverse movements and also carrying transversely adjustable right and left wire feed brackets, in combination with work holding means.

24. ln a machine of the character described, a frame carrying a vertical slide having right and left spindle heads adjustably attached thereto for transverse movements, and also carrying right and left VILLIAM E. PRIMROSE. 

